Club Notes for last week.. - 2020-05-23 17:06:00
'Remember '98'..
On Thursday June 18th 19998 a crowd gathered at the Old Cemetery in Rathcormac. 1998 was the Bicentenary of the United Irishmen Rising of 1798. In that momentous year John Dahill was hung for his part in the Rising. The Dahill family had connections with Ballyda in Bartlemy and also with Curraglass. The Dahill's were blacksmiths and it is believed that John Dahill was involved with making Croppy Pikes for the insurgents. His grave in the cemetery is marked with a fine headstone -not far from where Bride Rovers hurler Johnny Barry is buried, and the words 'died a martyr' were inscribed on the stone. The local Landlord in Rathcormac took offence to this true statement and had the word 'martyr' erased. To this day the stone can be seen with the 'missing' word. As part of the commemorations on that evening an evergreen oak, the Tree of Liberty' was planted on the Green in Rathcormac. Before 1998 had run it's course that famous Green saw two mighty celebratory gatherings as the people of the parish and beyond gathered to honour the Bride Rovers Hurlers.
Travel Arrangements
A trip to Australia by Donal Ryan and Alan Fitzgerald was on the cards all during the summer of 1998 but as the hurling team progressed the plans were put on the long Finger. Fr Seanie too had to return to Africa in early November. When we beat Ballinascarthy in the County Semi Final on Saturday October the 10th hopes were high that the County Final would go ahead maybe two weeks later or three at the latest. Three weeks would be Sunday the 1st of November and if that date was confirmed Fr Seanie could change his travel plans to the following week. It wasn't to be however as Sunday November 15th was eventually announced as the County Final date.
County Final
It meant we had a five week lead up to the Final. It was long time but it was just an absolutely brilliant time for the Club and the Parish. As well as six o clock evening training sessions we had full daylight get togethers on Saturdays a and Sundays. Fr Seanie left for Africa on Saturday October 31st. On his last meeting with the players the previous weekend he brought a series of large posters, which were put up on the walls of the dressing room. In these he reminded the lads of the importance of the occasion of the County Final and how to approach it and win it. To be honest after the amazing win over Ballinascarthy in the semi final the belief in our panel was sky high. Barry Murphy stared at wing back for Imokilly as they retained the Co SHC title with a win over the Rockies on November the 1st -the game was postponed a week after torrential rain. Niall Fitzgerald was also on the panel. On Sunday November the 8th Castlelyons won the Intermediate HC with a mighty win over Killeagh. There was no pressure on us now ! what with Imokilly and Castlelyons winning Counties on successive Sundays! The colour and excitement really built up during the last two weeks. William O Riordan of Kilshannig who trained our football team helped Tom Mulcahy, Denis Ahern and Pat Hoskins with the final preparations. One training session included an impromptu birthday party for Donal Ryan and Jerome O Driscoll. With Donal and Alan booked 'Down Under' there was a bit of panic when we were asked to put the Final back a week -if it was a draw and a replay needed we'd be without our Captain so we held out for the 15th. The Final was fixed for Pairc Ui Rinn but was switched to 'headquarters', Pairc Ui Chaoimh. The Co JBHC Final between Castletownroche and Tullylease was the curtain raiser. With rain the day before the game many felt that two games in mid November would be too much. Luckily our day of destiny was dry and as the crowds left Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan after midday the sun shone. The official attendance was nearly 5000 with surely another thousand juveniles present. Castletown won the Junior B Final and afterwards the pitch looked very soft but at least it was dry. " The day we have always dreamed of" was how former player and Club Secretary Tony Walsh summed up the occasion.
HISTORY MADE.
Like the semi final we had a great start with three early points from Jerome (free), Donal and Padraig Murphy. Another white flag from Padraig saw us 0 4 to 0 2 ahead but then the Duhallow side levelled before Terry Broderick edged us 5/4 ahead after 19 minutes. Then Freemount tore into the game but luckily Pat Walsh, Niall Fitzgerald and Andrew O Flynn all saved dangerous attacks. By the 23rd minute Freemount were two ahead 0 7 to 0 5 and we hit two wides in a row to leave us two points in arrears 0 7 to 0 5 at half time. The wind wasn't a major factor and to be honest we were probably lucky just to be two behind as Freemount also had a few very bad wides. In the dressingroom there was no panic but a steely determination to do better. Brendan Broderick had got Freemont's opening score of the game and he repeated the feat early in the second half to give his side a three-point lead. Pat Barry's 65 was lobbed in around the square and Sean Ryan got a touch and the green flag was waving. Now seemed the time we would kick on but John O Flynn put his side a point ahead. Donal Ryan levelled as the excitement was at fever pitch. But Freemount didn't give up and went two points ahead 0 11 to 1 6. Padraig Murphy left the minimum between the teams. A one-two movement between Donal Ryan and Mike Hogan ended with Donal tying up the scores 1 8 to 0 11. Pat Barry sent the sliotar to Padraig, onto Richie Cahill and Terry finished it to the net. We were up by a goal and a County title beckoned for us at last. Freemount got one back but Jerome and Padraig hit two fantastic points, we were up four with three minutes to go. Donal Ryan our captain was down injured but recovered. Brendan Broderick sent over a point as we were in the second minute of added time, just a goal in it and hundreds of whistles going in the stand. Andrew pucked out the sliotar and the game was over and we were County Champions. It was a brilliant win, a win that came from the Minor County League win of 1992 and the Junior B Grade wins of 1993 and 1995 but even in those years we never dreamt that this day would come. As Donal Ryan lifted the Johnny Quirke Cup he remembered Fr Seanie thousands of miles away in Malawi. How the people of the Parish celebrated in Pairc Ui Chaoimh that evening. The team that brought the County Junior A Grade Hurling Championship in 1998 was Andrew O Flynn, Anthony Cahill, Niall Fitzgerald, Alan Broderick, Pat Barry, Barry Murphy, Pat Walsh, Donal Ryan Captain 0 3, Batt McHugh, Padraig Murphy 0 4, James Murphy, Mike Hogan, Jerome O Driscoll 0 2, Sean Ryan 1 0, Terry Broderick 1 1, Shane Hogan, Richie Cahill, Martin O Flynn, Batt O Connell, Cormac Howard, John O Dowd, Liam Barry, Mark O Connell, Michael Kearney, Declan o Donovan and Dermot Johnson. The news of the famous victory made it's way to Malawi later that evening as the crowds thronged the streets of Rathcormac. Yes we had an unforgettable night on the famous old Green. In essence the Party went on for about a month including a great session at Cork Airport on Saturday November 28th, the first occasion the Jamesey Kelleher and Johnny Quirke Cups nearly went to Australia!
A video link of the 1998 County Final which has been digitised by Brendan Barry and is now on the club website so that you can watch the game on You Tube. Watching it relives a great occasion twenty two years ago -the start of a Golden Era.
We were back up in intermediate Hurling for the first time since 1937. In the first Round of the 1999 IHC we defeated Milford by 1 11 to 2 7.
TOM O DONOGHUE RIP.
The death occurred last week of Tom O Donoghue who was full back on the Cork Senior Hurling team that won the 1966 All Ireland when our own Seanie Barry was one of the stars. Born in 1940s in Mayfield Tom played with Cork Minors in 1958. He then transferred to Sars and made his senior debut with Cork in 1965. He played at full-back for five seasons winning Munster medals in 1966 and 1969. He was an old school 'though shall not pass' full-back and starred in Corks win in 1966. After Cork lost the 1969 Final to Kilkenny he retired from the Inter County scene. May he rest in peace.
Bride Rovers Club Gear.
While we might not be playing games at present it's still important to wear the Green, White and Gold of the Club whenever possible. We have negotiated to have a full range of our Club Gear available to purchase from O Neills Sportswear. At present all sizes of jersies, t-shirts, shorts, jackets, polo shirts and tracksuits are in stock at reasonable prices. Go to Oneills.ie and then search in the list of club names for 'Bride Rovers' and you'll see the full range.
'YOUR NAME PLEASE'
We played Glen Rovers in the County Intermediate league above in the Glen Field in 1999. The referee was AJ Cronin who became a very prominent ref in Cork Ladies football in later years. An incident happened in the second half of the game and AJ decided to send off a Glen player, a well known former Senior player. The ref called the player over and asked 'What is your name?'. The player in question replied 'You know my effing name' and AJ asked once more 'What is your name?' to which the Glen player replied 'F***ing Snow White' 'That's fine' said AJ ' you can go over there so to the sideline and sit down with the seven dwarfs'.
Moving the Goalposts in 1927.
On Sunday June 26th 1927 Aghada junior hurlers travelled to Rathcormac to play the home team in the East Cork League. The Rathcormac pitch at the time was a roadside field in the townland of Knocknaboola on Jack 'Knock' Barry's farm. The local club noticed that a large crowd of spectators were outside on the road, not paying the 6d admission fee. They were obviously going to view the game by looking in over the ditch – free gratis.! The home club decided that as funds were low there was no point in providing free entertainment. Shovels were procured and the four goal-posts dug up. These were then moved to a field closer to the river Bride which couldn’t be seen from the road. Holes were dug, posts re-erected and the game went on. The spectators had no choice but to part with their ’tanner’ to view the contest! In fairness they got great value for money as the game was a thriller. The Cork Examiner reported the game as follows –Both teams seemed equally matched and possessed of a truly sporting spirit. Rathcormac won by 1 - 2 to 1 – 1. Just a month earlier at Midleton Aghada had beaten Rathcormac in the first round of the East Cork Junior Hurling championship on a score-line of 3 2 to 1 3.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS.
These are tough times for all business firms, big and small, and in Bride Rovers we are especially grateful to Rathcormac Tyres and Fermoy Print and Design for their ongoing assistance. If you or family members or friends can support these two firms we would really appreciate it.
PLANNING FOR WALSH PARK.
If this was a normal year we'd be starting making plans for a trip to Walsh park on Sunday week. With a limited capacity tickets will be as scarce as hens teeth. Luckily for us a club we sent bundles of Stand Tickets to Tallow, Ballyduff, Lismore, Ballysaggart and Shamrocks a few years back when Waterford were in the All Ireland Final. We'd be fairly confident of getting a quid pro quo back. As for the game itself. We were lucky enough to beat Limerick.. down five points and then got two penalties which Hoggy scored. Waterford looked very impressive against Tipp so 'twill be all to play for. I have bread and ham ordered for Saturday week to make the sandwiches so here's hoping for a great day.
Parish Newsletter.
The Parish Newsletter can be emailed to anyone in the Parish who would like to get a copy. Each Saturday the latest edition will be sent out. If you wish to get a copy just forward your email address to rathcormacpp@gmail.com Until further notice Fr Joe O Keeffe will celebrate mass each Sunday at 10.30. The Mass will be live-streamed on the Parish Facebook page and U Tube channel. The two Churches in the Parish are now opened on alternate days from 12 noon until 3.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
